Ep 17. Young Love

In the Gunsmoke season 4 episode 17 titled Young Love, Marshal Dillon and Chester see a stagecoach coming into town, and as it gets closer they notice it's being driven by a young girl named Laurie. She's come from Texas to look for her older brother Billy, who is on the run from the law after killing a man. The Marshal doesn't have the heart to tell her the truth about her brother, so he enlists Festus to help the girl find her brother without letting her in on what he's done.

The two sets out on a journey to find Billy, during which they come across a young man named Johnny, who falls head over heels for Laurie. The Marshal and Festus soon realize that Johnny is Billy under an alias. He seems to have found a new life for himself, but Laurie's arrival threatens to ruin everything he's worked for.

Meanwhile, Matt Dillon and Chester try to find out more about the man Billy killed and his criminal background. They soon discover that he was involved with the notorious Mannon gang. Billy had killed him in self-defense, but the Mannons want him dead as revenge for killing one of their own.

As the Marshal and Festus try to keep Laurie from finding out her brother's dark past, Johnny is torn between his love for Laurie and his desire to protect her from the Mannons. The tension reaches a boiling point when the Mannons arrive in town, and a final showdown unfolds that leaves several lives hanging in the balance.

Young Love is a heartwarming and suspenseful episode that showcases the gritty nature of the Wild West and the emotional struggles of young love. The innocence of Laurie and Johnny's love is contrasted with the harsh realities of violence and revenge in a way that is both poignant and entertaining. Fans of Gunsmoke will be enthralled by the complex characters and gripping storyline of this episode.